Improvement in music-leaf turners



2 Sheets--Sheet1.

LITHOMSON.

. Music-Leaf Turners.

N0.]55,555 Patented Sept. 29,1874.

THE GVIAPNIC CO. PHOTO-LITHBQ & 4i PARK PLACERLY 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

l. THOMSON.

Music-Leaf Turners.

Patented Sept. 29,187

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JAMES THOMSON, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT lN MUSIC-LEAF TURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,555, dated September 29, 1874; application filed July 29, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES THOMSON, of Derby, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Music-Stands; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, iii- Figure 1, a front view; Fig. 2, a top view; Fig. 3, a side view, and in Figs. 4 and 5 detached views.

This invention relates to an improvement in a device for turning the leaves of music; the object being to turn the leaves without the employment of the fingers, so that the performer need not take his fingers from the instrument when it is desirable to turn the leaves; and it consists in the arrangement of one or more pulleys at the center of the music-support, with an arm attached to each, and each arm secured to one leaf of the page, combined with a pedal to each pulley, so that, by depressing the pedals successively, the pulleys will be rotated, and the leaves accordin gly turned; and of a spring to each pulley, which will return the leaf, and a trip, which will disengage the pedal to allow the return of the leaf.

I illustrate my invention as applied to a music-stand; but it will be evident that it may be applied to other holders or racks.

A is the rack, upon which the music is placed, here represented as supported in an' upright, B, on a base, 0. At the center of the rack one or more pulleys, D D, are arranged.

. From each of these an arm, a, extends out below the rack, each provided with parallel fingers 1), running upward; also, with an arm, E E, extending up at the outer edge of the page, with similar fingers b. Each leaf of the music is set between these two pairs of fingers. These fingers are made adjustable, and are preferably arranged so that the finger on the principal arm a will take the leaf near the fold or inner edge, the other at the opposite upper corner, as seen in Fig. 2, each leaf having its own independent pulley and holders; here represented as but two, but may be more or less. Each pulley is provided with a spring, E, as seen in Fig. 4., the tendency of which is to hold the arms over to the right, as seen in Fig. 2. From each pulley a cord, 01, runs down, and is attached to a second pulley, F, on the upright; and on each of the pulleys F is a small pulley, f, from which a cord, 0, runs down, and each attached to its respective pedal G or G.

Therefore, by depressing the pedal, as from the position G to the position G, (see Figs. 3 and 5,) the corresponding pulley F will be turned, communicating its revolution to the respective pulley D, and throw the arm with the leaf attached over to the left, as denoted in broken lines, Fig. 1. As the pedal is depressed, it falls beneath a shoulder, n, in the guide L, as seen in Fig. 5; and so on each successive leaf is turned, and the pedal engaged beneath its own notch in the guide L, to hold the turned leaves over to the left.

It frequently occurs that it is necessary to return the leaves, in order to repeat. To do this I arrange a slide, P, with slots corresponding to those in the guide L, and this is attached to a lever, B, which extends out from the guide L, as seen in Fig. 3. This slide P is moved transversely by bearing against the lever B. Therefore, when it is desired to return the leaves, press the lever B to the right, and this will free all the pedals from their notches a, and allow the spring E of the pulley to return the arms with the leaves to the right or first position.

I claim- In combination with the pulleys D D, more or less in number, each provided with an arm, a, and fingers b, and spring E, their respective pulleys F f, and pedals G G, the guide L, constructed with notches a, the lever B, and slide P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES THOMSON.

Witnesses:

ADAM Lnmnvenn, HENRY G. HAWKINS. 

